Automated static analysis, commonly referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), can find some instances of this weakness by analyzing source code (or binary/compiled code) without having to execute it. Typically, this is done by building a model of data flow and control flow, then searching for potentially-vulnerable patterns that connect "sources" (origins of input) with "sinks" (destinations where the data interacts with external components, a lower layer such as the OS, etc.)
CWE-274 Base Rascunho
Improper Handling of Insufficient Privileges
This vulnerability occurs when an application fails to properly manage situations where it lacks the necessary permissions to execute an action. This flawed handling can lead to crashes, data…
Definição
What is CWE-274?
This vulnerability occurs when an application fails to properly manage situations where it lacks the necessary permissions to execute an action. This flawed handling can lead to crashes, data corruption, or unintended security bypasses.
Insufficient privilege handling flaws typically arise when developers assume an operation will always succeed, neglecting to implement robust error-checking for permission failures. Instead of gracefully degrading or informing the user, the application might throw a raw exception, log sensitive data, or enter an unstable state. This creates a reliability issue that attackers can potentially exploit to cause denial-of-service or gather internal system information.
To prevent this, always validate permissions before performing sensitive operations and implement consistent, secure error handling that doesn't leak details. Managing these authorization checks at scale across a complex application is difficult; an ASPM like Plexicus can help you track and remediate these logic flaws across your entire stack by correlating runtime behavior with code-level patterns.
Impacto no mundo real
Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-274
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System limits are not properly enforced after privileges are dropped.
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Firewall crashes when it can't read a critical memory block that was protected by a malicious process.
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Does not give admin sufficient privileges to overcome otherwise legitimate user actions.
Como os atacantes a exploram
Trajeto do atacante passo a passo
- 1
Identificar um caminho de código que trata input não confiável sem validação.
- 2
Criar um payload que explora o comportamento inseguro — injeção, traversal, overflow ou abuso de lógica.
- 3
Entregar o payload através de um pedido normal e observar a reação da aplicação.
- 4
Iterar até que a resposta exponha dados, execute código do atacante ou escale privilégios.
Exemplo de código vulnerável
Vulnerable pseudo
A MITRE não publicou um exemplo de código para este CWE. O padrão abaixo é ilustrativo — consulte os Recursos para referências canónicas.
// Example pattern — see MITRE for the canonical references.
function handleRequest(input) {
// Untrusted input flows directly into the sensitive sink.
return executeUnsafe(input);
} Exemplo de código seguro
Secure pseudo
// Validate, sanitize, or use a safe API before reaching the sink.
function handleRequest(input) {
const safe = validateAndEscape(input);
return executeWithGuards(safe);
} What changed: the unsafe sink is replaced (or the input is validated/escaped) so the same payload no longer triggers the weakness.
Lista de verificação de prevenção
How to prevent CWE-274
- Architecture Use safe-by-default frameworks and APIs that prevent the unsafe pattern from being expressible.
- Implementation Validate input at trust boundaries; use allowlists, not denylists.
- Implementation Apply the principle of least privilege to credentials, file paths, and runtime permissions.
- Testing Cover this weakness in CI: SAST rules + targeted unit tests for the data flow.
- Operation Monitor logs for the runtime signals listed in the next section.
Sinais de deteção
How to detect CWE-274
O Plexicus deteta automaticamente o CWE-274 e abre um PR de correção em menos de 60 segundos.
O Codex Remedium analisa cada commit, identifica esta fraqueza exata e entrega um pull request pronto para revisão com o patch. Sem tickets. Sem transferências.
Perguntas frequentes O que é o CWE-274?
Qual a gravidade do CWE-274?
Que linguagens ou plataformas são afetadas pelo CWE-274?
Como posso prevenir o CWE-274?
Como é que o Plexicus deteta e corrige o CWE-274?
Onde posso saber mais sobre o CWE-274?
Frequently asked questions
O que é o CWE-274?
This vulnerability occurs when an application fails to properly manage situations where it lacks the necessary permissions to execute an action. This flawed handling can lead to crashes, data corruption, or unintended security bypasses.
Qual a gravidade do CWE-274?
A MITRE não publicou uma classificação de probabilidade de exploração para esta fraqueza. Trate-a como impacto médio até o seu modelo de ameaças provar o contrário.
Que linguagens ou plataformas são afetadas pelo CWE-274?
A MITRE não especificou as plataformas afetadas por este CWE — pode aplicar-se à maioria das stacks de aplicações.
Como posso prevenir o CWE-274?
Use safe-by-default frameworks, validate untrusted input at trust boundaries, and apply the principle of least privilege. Cover the data-flow signature in CI with SAST.
Como é que o Plexicus deteta e corrige o CWE-274?
O motor SAST do Plexicus correlaciona a assinatura de fluxo de dados do CWE-274 em cada commit. Quando é encontrada uma correspondência, o nosso agente Codex Remedium abre um PR de correção com o código corrigido, testes e um resumo de uma linha para o revisor.
Onde posso saber mais sobre o CWE-274?
A MITRE publica a definição canónica em https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/274.html. Pode também consultar a documentação da OWASP e do NIST para orientações adjacentes.
Fraquezas relacionadas
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